Diana statue: Kate Middleton can bring peace between Prince Harry, William

Kate Middleton has reportedly been reaching out to Meghan Markle as Prince William and Harry’s feud continues.

Kate Middleton has reportedly been reaching out to Meghan Markle as Prince William and Harry’s feud continues.

According to a US Weekly, a source said kate has been trying to make contact with Meghan after the birth of her daughter Lilibet Diana.

“Kate has been reaching out to Meghan a lot more since [Lilibet] was born, she’s sending [notes and] gifts and trying to build up a relationship,” the source said.

“The firm has been instructing staffers to reach out more to Harry and Meghan to get them to soften a bit.”

She is the one person who can keep the peace between Prince William and Prince Harry and proved herself the duchess of diplomacy at Prince Philip’s funeral, so royal insiders are hoping Kate’s second mission will be successful.

When the feuding brothers met at their grandfather’s funeral in April, it was Catherine who got them chatting on the walk back to Windsor Castle, before subtly moving away and giving them space to talk in private. Onlookers praised her skilful manoeuvre.

And so, despite not being at the unveiling of Diana’s statue in the gardens at Kensington Palace on Thursday, commentators believe the duchess will be hard at work behind the scenes, keen not to let the moving occasion pass without an opportunity for the siblings to repair their relationship.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Picture: Getty Images

Catherine, Prince Harry and Prince William walking together after the funeral service for Prince Philip in April. Picture: 7 NEWS

She has enjoyed a close relationship with her brother-in-law since marrying William a decade ago and Harry has been repeatedly pictured making Catherine roar with laughter over the years. So insiders hope she can bring back some of the closeness that has been lost.

It was a much smaller party than first planned that joined William and Harry in the Sunken Garden of Kensington Palace for the unveiling of the statue of their mother.

They had commissioned sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, famous for his depiction of the Queen which emblazons British coins, to create the statue to commemorate 20 years since Diana died in 2017, but delayed the launch until today, Diana’s 60th birthday.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace following their engagement in 2017. Picture: Daniel Leal-Olivas

Originally planning to have 100 guests in attendance, the pandemic meant it was a much more private event, with William and Harry joined by Spencer family members and the statue committee.

William, Kate and their children are reported to have privately viewed the statue before the launch, as well as Harry, who had been in isolation in Frogmore Cottage since flying in from Los Angeles last weekend.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex unveil a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace. Picture: Getty

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (left) and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex unveil a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales. Picture: Getty

The statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, by artist Ian Rank-Broadley, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace. Picture: Getty

Meghan did not accompany Harry, after giving birth to daughter Lilibet just four weeks ago, so it was agreed Kate would also not attend the event.

But it is expected she will play a big role away from the cameras and try to bring the brothers back together, as she did at the funeral.

After the memorial, according to the UK’s Telegraph, William and Kate had a long talk with Harry, despite reports to the contrary.

Kate told friends, before the couple did their Oprah interview, that she didn’t think it was too late to “pull them back in.”

“Behind the scenes, Kate will be talking to both brothers, trying to smooth things over,” says Brittani Barger, deputy editor of Royal Central.

Charles, The Prince of Wales, and his sons, Prince Harry and Prince William, collecting floral tributes to their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, from the crowd at Kensington Palace in September, 1997. Picture: Rebecca Naden

However, some believe with Meghan not in attendance, it’s harder for Harry to really reconcile.

“He has thrown in his lot with his wife,” royal biographer Hugo Vickers told The Express newspaper.

“If he starts reconciling, he will get his head bitten off, won’t he?”

It’s hoped the combination of the moving tribute to his mother, her birthday, his childhood home and once favourite sister-in-law, might go some way to soften Harry’s heart.

Originally published as Diana statue: Kate Middleton can bring peace between Prince Harry, William